Monday, April 07, 2008

Runaway Bailouts: How Taxpayers Can Fight Back

By RALPH NADER ... What can be done about these gigantic runaway sprees? First, pass legislation that broadens individual taxpayers' right to sue in federal court against waste, fraud and abuse, including those receivers of bailouts-the reckless, avaricious corporations who have Uncle Sam in their back pockets. Second, have a voluntary checkoff on the 1040 tax return inviting individual taxpayers to join their own taxpayer defense organization. Such a group would have millions of small dues paying members and an on-the-spot skillful watchdog group in our national capital. Finally, place our public elections off the private auction block and have them funded by well promoted voluntary checkoffs on the tax returns together with a certain amount of free radio and television time for ballot-qualified candidates seeking federal office. These and other proposals, such as giving shareholders more power to restrain their top executives, will give taxpayers some grip on the wide-open spigot of taxpayer dollars delivered to the misfits of the giant corporate world. Ralph Nader is the author of The Seventeen Traditions

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